Activity 3: Spectral Analysis

Materials:

lab hand-out on Spectral Analysis, spectroscopes, gas tubes (neon, oxygen, sodium, helium, hydrogen and argon), colored pencils, spectral chart of the given elements

About this Activity:

This activity involves a laboratory investigation for students to perform. In this investigation, students will observe various elements through a spectroscope. Using a spectral chart or text- book of the spectra of known elements, students will match their results to the given spectra to determine the unknown elements.

Procedure:

  1. Pass out a spectroscope, lab hand-out, and spectral chart to each student.
  2. Review how to use a spectroscope.
  3. Show each of the gas tubes representing one of the six elements. Have students observe each element using a spectroscope. They should draw the pattern of what they saw onto their lab hand- out.
  4. The lab questions can be done individually or in their laboratory groups.
Worksheet: Spectral Analysis

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[LMGFP home page] Contact Karen Krupinsky (kgurley@gsfc.nasa.gov) or
Tammy Seergae (tseergae@umd.edu) for further information.